Cabinet construction



Feb. 20, 1940.

F. J. OSUCH CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. FRH/VC/ J'Ol-IN osucH Y W 8. M

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. F. J. osucH CABINET consmwcwxon Fil ed Aug. 24, 1938 2Shee ts-Sheet 2 rawlllrallrll'l"lplllrprrll INVENTOR. FHA/V616 mmv osucnY am ATTORNEY.

P a'tented Feb. 20, 1940 PTEN- orrlce CABINET CONSTRUCTION Francis JohnOsuch, Grosse Pointe, Mich assignor to Robot Products Corporation,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 24, 1938,Serial No. 226,531 3Claimsf (01412 -112) I This. invention relates tocabinets, and more particularly to storage cabinets of the type used invthe kitchen and the like. 1 j The present application is a continuationin partof my co-pending application Serial Number 70,74l, filed March25, 1936, for Cabinet construction.

1 In the manufacture of storage cabinets and the likehaving more thanone compartment to .1 be assembled upon delivery to the user, some meansshould be provided to compensate for manufacturing irregularities sothat the various sections of the unit may be readily secured togetherwithout fabrication at the point of use. This is particularly true whenthe cabinet structure, is made of steel with a coat of vitreous enamelwhich is easily chipped or marred should the entire unit be assembledwith bolts and screws to force the various sections into positioninstead of having provisions for adjusting to compensate for themanufacturing irregularities. Accordingly, it is one of the objects ofmy invention to provide a unitary structure which may be readilyassembled at the point of use without in any manner chipping or marringthe enamel of the cabinet. Another object of my invention is to providea unitary shelving structure consisting of a plurality of superimposedcompartments having open fronts and in which one compartment is of lessdepth than the compartment thereabove so as to dispose the compartmentin stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary cabinet structureconsisting. of numerous storage compartments manufactured in sectionsand which may be readily assembled as a unit, andztoarrange certainparts of the structure so that the same may be. adjustable to compensatefor manufacturing irregularities to thus permit the ready assembly ofthe unit. g

1 Another object of my invention is to provide a storage cabinetincluding the shelf supporting section and end sections, and to arrangethe shelf supporting section in such a manner that it is telescopedwithin the end sections so that the entire structure is expansible orcontractible to fit in a given wall space.

, Another object of my invention is to provide 1 the sectionsof theaforementioned unit with adjustableportions so as to permitinterchangeability of sections in the unit.

. Other objects and advantages will be apparent fromthe followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of thepresent invention is clearly shown.

1 In the drawings: 1

Fig. l is a front View in elevation of the unit embodying features :ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a topview of the unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a fragmentary view taken along the line t% of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of arrows i l ofFig. 1; 1

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of em odiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in a further modified form disclosing myinvention;

Fig; 7 is a. front View in elevation of a modified form of unitembodying features of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a view taken in the direction ofarrows il tofFigJl;

Fig. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrows ii!i of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the upper left hand corner ofthe structure shown in Fig. '7; 1 1 a Fig. ll is an enlarged fragmentaryView of the lower left hand corner of the structure shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper left handcorner ofthe structure shown in Fig. 8; and.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of the lower part .of the structure shownin Fig. 8 and shown in modified form.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral it liesignates, in general, aunitary structure embodying features of my invention. Unit 2t includes acabinet sink 2i, cabinet 23, which is adapted to house an electricironer (notshown) refrigerator cabinet 25, st rage cabinet 26, storagecabinet 2'! and storage cabinet 28. The cabinets iii, 23, 25, 25, illand 28 may be secured together by any suitable means, such as bolts,screws and the like.

As will be noted in the drawings, the cabinets 2'1 and 2% form a unitaryupright structure, and the refrigerator cabinet and storage cabinet 25form an upright structure which is spaced apart from the storagecabinets 21 and Between these two upright structures, there is providedshelf supporting structures 30. The structures provide three shelfmembers 33 and 3d vertically spaced with the shelf tending forwardlyfrom the rear of the cabii shelf or and the shelf member 533 extendingforwardly from the rear of the cabinet further than the shelf 34. Theshelf members 32 are ,her than 36, preferably secured to the shelf 32 byhinges I 38. As will be noted in Fig. 3, the shelf structure the shelfstructure 32 so as to clamp the shelf I section in position but topermit relative movev ment between end section 40 and the shelf 32 whenit is desired to effect movement therebe-' tween. I

By having the shelf members 32, 33 and 34 of different widths asdisclosedit is possible to mount the structure 30 above and below theheight of the average person without having any part of the structure inthe way of the user thereof as is the case in the use of conventionalshelf structure. This is occasioned because the uppermost shelf may beabove the users head while the lower shelves retreat away from theuser.. This type of structure is particularly advantageous where it isdesired to place a work table or sink below such shelf structure as theshelf structure does not interfere with the work on the sink or worktable, nor do the lower shelves'extend outwardly far enough to hide thework from view when the housekeeper or user is standing up.

The rear of the cabinet is closed by rear panel 44 which is secured tocabinet structure 28 and cabinet structure 26 by screws 46. Preferably,the screws extend through elongated slots 48 in the member 44 so as topermit adjustment of the member 44 relative to the rear of the cabinet.On the opposite end of theshelf'structure 32, there is provided an endsection 50 which. corresponds to the end section 40, the end section 50being rigidly secured to the end section 52 of a shelf structure 54. Theshelf structure 54 corresponds in all respects to'shelf structure 32.The shelf structure 32 is also arranged to telescope within theendsection 50 and is frictionally engaged thereby so as to permitrelative movement between the two surfaces. A trim element 56 isprovided to overlap the joint between the sections 4050 and the shelfstructure 32. The trim section includes a flat portion 58which ispreferably secured to the end section 40 and an inwardly directed flange60 which is adapted to engage shelf structure 32 so as to effect a sealjoint therebetween.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the stepped shelf structure 30isadjustable in length due to the arrangement between the various shelfstructures and the end sectionsMl and 56. By this arrangement there canbe a variation of several inches in the entire width of the unit asmanufactured at the factory, and upon setting up the job at the point ofuse the shelf structure may be expanded or contracted to take care ofthe several inch discrepancy in measurements. Furthermore, the rearpanel of the cabinet, due to elongated slots 46, is arranged to takecare of the variations in the over all width of the cabinet.

Furthermore, some users may find it desirable to substitute for theironer cabinet 23 an electric range or the like, and if so, there islikely to be considerable difference in the width of the cabinet, thusnecessitating an adjustment of certain parts of the cabinet tocompensate for the difference in widths over the range and ironer. Bymaking the shelf structures 30 and rear panel 1 adjustable with respectto the remaining parts date a given wall space.

end section 80 andthe shelf structure 82 is cov-.

structed of sheet metal.

posed on a horizontal plane and is provided with of the cabinet, it ispossible to substitute various types of sections for those disclosed inthe unit and at the same time compensate for any variations in width ofthe entire unit.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of shelf structure ID which isadapted to be received within end section I2 in telescopic arrangement.However, in this section a trim element .14 is provided with an inwardlyformed portion "I6 which is adapted to frictionally engage the shelfstructure Ill to clamp the shelf structure to the end section I2 but topermit relative movement therebetween when so desired. As shown, thestructure I0 is slightly bent to aid in the frictional engagement withthe portion I6.

Fig. 6 discloses a cup-shaped endmember 80' adapted to, close the end ofshelf structure 82 with the shelf structure 82 being received by thecup-shaped end member 80 in telescopic arrangement. In some instances,it has been found desirable to manufacture merely the stepped sh elfstructure having end sections as shown at 80" independent of the entireunit 20. When structures of this type are manufacturedindepend-w entlyof unit 20, it has been found desirable to arrange the end sections 86so that the same may be slid relative to the shelf structure 82 so as tovary the overall width of the cabinet to accommo- The joint between thea work table therebelow instead of sinks and In this case the Work tableand shelf structure may be made to definite dimensions 'at" the factory.Another instance is in the low cost ranges.

housing field where wall space isstandardized.

Inthis case the wall space dimensions are known and the shelf structureis made to definite dimen-- sions at the factory. A third instance iswhere a work table of standard dimensions is placed below the shelfstructure and sinks and. ranges fitted to the work table at installationat point Of use.

Referring to Figs. '7 to 12, there is shown atop wall I40, bottom wallI44 and cup-shaped end walls 550. These walls'are all preferably con-The top wall I40 is disdownturned edges I54 at the front and rear of thecabinet. The top wall I40 also includes extension members I56 at theends thereof. The extensions are formed on a slightly lower plane thanthe wall proper and are used for receiving and securing the cup-shapedend members I50. in a manner about to be described. The bottom wall I44includes a vertical section I62 and horizontal sections I 64 and I66.The sections I64 and I66 are integrally formed with the section I62'andarranged so that section I64 is on a higher vertical plane than section8 55 and so that section IE4 extends forwardly from section it?! andsection its extends rearwardly from section H52.

Bottom wall H52 provided with an upturned edge ill! at the front of thecabinet and an upturned edge H2 at the rear of the cabinet. I'he rear ofthe cabinet may be closed by a rear member iltl which may be secured. toedges its .and Hit by welding or bolts (not shown). The front of thecabinet includes mullions H8. The mullionsinclude extensions 58% and iwhich are secured to edges i and lit, respectively, by

welding or bolts (not shown). As shown in Fig. 11, thebottom wall Md isprovidedwith extensions Hi5 forreceiving and securing the cupshaped endmembers 56. The end members use are cup-shaped and include inwardlydirected flanges its which are placed over extensions I55 of top wallHill and extensions $85 of bcttomwall bolts (not shown). Edges its andi622 of walls hit, and HM terminate in abutting relation to anges tilt?!of end members .ififi.

Shelves 290 and EM may be provided and these shelves may be carried bythe end walls by brackets 2M and 2M, respectively.

. .In Fig. 9 I have, for the purposefof clarity,

omitted the shelves so as to better disclose the bottom wall structure.i

The front part of the cabinet is provided with openings 208 between thedoor mullions and also openings 2m provided in section 162 of wallstructure M4. Openings 205, are closed by doors 212. hinges 226. Thehinges may be welded or bolted to the mullions and doors. Doors 2H! moveabove a vertical axis. The opening 219 in section it? of wall structureMM is closed by doors 225. Doors 225 are hinged to section I62 by hinges228. doors 225 and section I62. Doors .225 are the type which may belifted up to move about a horizontal axis.

By the present arrangement there is provided a series of superimposedcompartments 230 and 232 in which one compartment 232 is of lessdepththan the compartment 230 thereabove so as to dispose thecompartmentsin stepped arrangement downwardly and rearwardly.

If desired, hinges 228 may be omitted from doors 225 and hangers (notshown) of the type used in conventional book shelves substituted for thehinges 223. In this case the front part of the doors may be liftedupwardly and then the doors slid rearwardly into compartment 232.

In securing the cabinet together by welding as described it may bedesirable to spot weld the various sheets of metal together. viding thecup-shaped end members By pro- !5!) and spot welding the end members tothe extensions i I55 and I85, a rigid structure without the use ofpanels and the like is provided. Also, by providing extensions itil andI82 to door mullions H8 and spot welding such extensions to the top andbottom walls of the structure additional rigidity to the structure is.provided.

Fig. 13 discloses an arrangement wherein compartment 232 is closed by adrawer front 250 instead of doors 225. A drawer 252 is secured to front250. Sincethe compartment -232.may be The end walls and extensions Hitand 585 are secured together preferably by welding or Doors 252 arehinged to mullions I18 by,

Hinges 228 may be welded orbolted to advantageously used for storingsmall articles, it maybe in some instances desirable to use drawer 252and front instead of the open compartment closed by doors 225 as shownin Figs. 7 and 8. 1 I 1 If desired, the cabinet shelf structure i353 maybe used independently of the remainder of the" Also, if desired, thecabinet shelf structure may be mounteddirectlyto a wall of the cabinet.

of greater depth from front to rear than its lower portion and includinga series of superimposed compartments having open fronts and in whichone compartment is of less depth than the compartment thereabove, so asto dispose the compartments in stepped arrangement downwardly andrearwardly, doors for the open fronts of the compartments hinged tofixed portions thereof .and end members conforming to the contour of theshelving structure and each comprising an end wall having inwardlydirected peripheral flanges embracing telescopically end portions ofsaid structure, whereby the length of the cabinet may be varied.

1 2 A wall cabinet comprising a unitary shelving structure having openends and an upper portion of greater depth from front to rear than itslowerportion and including'a plurality of superimposed compartmentshaving open fronts and in which one compartment is of less depth thanthe compartment thereabove, so as to dispose the compartments insteppedarrangement downwardly andrearwardly, an independent door for each ofthe open fronts of the compartments movably secured to fixed portionsthereof and end members conforming to the contour of the shelvingstructure and each comprising an end wall having inwardly directedperipheral flanges embracing telescopically end portions of saidstructure.

3. A wall cabinet comprising a unitary shelving structure having openends and an upper portion of greater depth from front to .rear than itslower portion and including a plurality of superimposed compartmentshaving open fronts and in, which one compartment is of less depth thanthe compartment thereabove, so as to dispose the compartments in steppedarrangement downwardly and rearwardly, an independent door for each ofthe open fronts of the compartments movably secured to fixed portionsthereof. and

end members conforming to the contour of the shelving structure and eachcomprisingan end wall having inwardly directed peripheral flangesembracing end portions of said structure, with at least one of saidflanges embracing telescopically an end portion of said structurewhereby the length of the cabinet may be varied.

FRANCIS JOHNOSUCI-I.

